What about wearing a mask in stores or at work?
What about wearing a mask in stores or at work?
With the CDC recommending that fully vaccinated people no longer have to wear masks in most situations (indoors or outdoors), states, cities and businesses are now reviewing their policies.
Marketplace’s Nova Safo joined “Marketplace Morning Report” host David Brancaccio to discuss what businesses might do next. The following is an edited transcript of their conversation.
Nova Safo: There’s a whole range of issues that still have to be worked out now that there’s this vaccinated-unvaccinated distinction for mask-wearing.
First, the question of what businesses can now ask of their customers: Can they require proof of vaccination, for instance? We put that question to Eric Feldman, a law professor at the University of Pennsylvania focused on medical ethics and health policy.
Eric Feldman: Assuming that there’s not a law to the contrary, they could surely ask customers for proof of vaccine status. They’re then, of course, left with the decision of what they consider to be reasonable proof.
Safo: And vaccination proof, that’s something that still has to be sorted out. So what does that mean for now? Many businesses are likely to still require face masks.
David Brancaccio: And what can employers tell workers?
Safo: Well, the Occupational Safety and Health Administration still hasn’t updated its guidance. Here’s Kevin Troutman with the employment law firm Fisher Phillips.
Kevin Troutman: Up until this point, OSHA has consistently said that fully vaccinated employees and unvaccinated employees should be treated the same way with respect to COVID precautions in the workplace.
Safo: For now, that rule is still in place.
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